National monument worth a visit
After reading the .COMments section on Dec. 6 regarding the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, most of which struck a rather negative tone, my wife and I were perplexed by these sentiments. Had any of them visited?
We made our first visit last September — stayed in Island Falls, got up early, packed a picnic and made the 1-hour drive to the monument. A fairly long drive but a beautiful one. We spent three wonderful days admiring, exploring and picnicking along the awesomely spectacular East Branch of the Penobscot.
We got to Pond Pitch and mistook it for Grand Pitch, until we came upon Grand Pitch. Once there, this cataract is deserving of the name. This site alone is worthy of a visit. The huge drop combined with the raw power of the river is a breathtaking sight.
We also had encounters with wildlife, including a black bear. It’s always exciting to see one of these secretive creatures. We also got to watch a family of otters fishing. Birds of prey, moose and deer availed themselves as well.
The scenery is a glorious mixture of nature’s delicate intricacies as well as its powerful and spectacular.
Let me conclude by saying if seeing wildlife in a stunning environment doesn’t thrill you, leave you inspired, then you should by all means stay away. You should, though, at least visit the lovely towns of Island Falls and Patten, wonderful communities deserving of a visit in their own right.
Jack Parkhurst
Saint Albans
Support paid sick leave for all Maine workers
Working in the food and entertainment industry for five years teaches you a lot of things: Never stop moving because there’s always something to be done, wash your hands after you touch literally anything, and make good, trustworthy friends who will take your shift if you’re on your deathbed — because otherwise, you better believe you’ll be working.
In an industry where interacting with people is your job, coming in when you’re sneezing and coughing into every available section of clothing strikes some concern. As a worker and a patron of restaurants and event spaces, I’m always extra cautious because of my past experiences. I’ve seen people pass out from dehydration and exhaustion, servers bringing food to families while being sick with the flu, and even the simple act of people coughing into their hands before delivering a pizza to a table. Not only is that just so disgusting, but that’s a huge reason why illnesses are so easy to spread.
We have a wonderful opportunity now, to join the rest of New England in securing paid sick days for all workers. Even five sick days a year can help reduce the spread of illnesses and allow employees the time they need to rest. Please join me and what I can only imagine is any other person who’s ever worked in a position where they had to bribe someone to take their shift in supporting paid sick days for all Maine workers.
Nina Yeliseyev
Old Town
Don’t build the wall
This is not about immigration. President Donald Trump wants $5 billion of taxpayer money to begin border wall construction in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas — home to five fragile and essential wildlife sanctuaries. He has threatened to shut down the government if he doesn’t get his money.
This is not about immigration. Walls do not prevent the migration of people, but sever ecosystems and prevent the movement of animals through wilderness areas. Walls do not keep us safer but act as symbols of unchecked power, greed and fear. Walls do not keep people out, but they do drastically damage the environment — destroying wildlife habitat, migration corridors for endangered species and our multicultural cross-border southern communities. Walls do not prevent drugs from coming into our communities, but they do encourage feelings of powerlessness, hopelessness, oppression and confinement, and instill fear of the unknown and the other.
This is not about immigration. This wall is about destruction and corporate greed and a loss of heart and humanity.
This is not about immigration, but this is about love, hope and humanity.
My hope is that our trusted elected senators and representatives here in Maine, Bruce Poliquin, Chellie Pingree, Angus King and Susan Collins, choose to value our land and our animals, our indigenous history, and our southern border communities — and don’t actively harm them for the sake of a misguided presidential campaign promise for a wall that will not keep people out, but will severely damage our environment and our communities for generations to come.
Michel Droge
Portland